I’ll attempt to actually be coherent and explain more when I talk about my bizarre anime backlog this week (Wed or Thu), but for now, I just want to do a bit of reflection.
On Thursday, the reason I became an anime fan took place. I had gotten slightly behind on this anime because I had been focused on other things, including my backlog, but I finally was determined to catch up. After some issues with my internet Wednesday, I found time to watch the next 4 episodes in a row Thursday.
This is what happened next:
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………#HxH
— kami-nomi (@Kami_nomi) April 24, 2014
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..#HxH
— kami-nomi (@Kami_nomi) April 24, 2014
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..#igotnothing #HxH
— kami-nomi (@Kami_nomi) April 24, 2014
I kept thinking what anime had ever gotten me to the point where I was speechless. I then kept thinking what entertainment work had gotten me to a point where I could not even comprehend the emotion I was supposed to feel after what I just watched. I then tried to think about the last anime that I wanted to go and talk to someone immediately right after an episode had ended, and I’m not sure that has ever happened to me. For starters, I was one of the few people at my middle school who did watch anime (though mostly what was on Toonami), and then even in high school, where there wasn’t too many anime fans and not much anime on TV. Then through college and even the anime club there, which definitely had its moments, I’m not quite sure the moment I felt Thursday happened there either.
To put it simply: Episode 126 of Hunter x Hunter was special. It was, with little doubt in my mind, a masterpiece. Usually I try hard to not go to extremes with any show, but I can’t hold back. It’s the type of episode that reminded me why anime can be great, why it can go further than what it is now, and how it can be better than other mediums. Note “can”. As I’m sure you all know, sometimes that moment is few and far between in this medium. Hunter x Hunter Ep 126 reminded me: This is why I became an anime fan. And it’s why I hope there will be other anime that can meet the standard this episode set.
Anyways, I’ll talk more about Hunter x Hunter this week, including why I thought marathoning Eps 122-125 really set the tone for 126, but of course, you come for links this morning, not my overbloated, meandering thoughts of a long-running shounen series. So let’s get to it:
- Needless to say, this is the best Mahouka post you’ll ever read about the series. Guaranteed.
- Emily talks about one aspect of Ping Pong that was pretty strong in this week’s Ping Pong: the sound.
- Here, have a review of the Ring. No, not the film, the novel! Yes, the novel you fool!
- Hey, if you finally want to learn Japanese, read this post, then read the comments since some left useful links and suggestions, then set some time to study. Or something.
- Also don’t normally link to two posts on one site, but I’ll let it slide since this was a guest post by Charles Dunbar, and this involves anime piracy and a scene by an industry rep that’s sad and pretty bad.
- Sorrows Neptune wrote a pretty thoughtful, interesting post on fanservice, from her perspective.
- Finally, we talked about manga sizes on the site so it only makes sense that I link to a post talking about hardcover manga.
Tweets that may say something about my taste in tweets
Confucius say people who work for exposure… often freeze to death!
— zzeroparticle (@zzeroparticle) April 25, 2014
in anime maturity is inversely proportional to age. pic.twitter.com/mKHwlkpSW7
— Reki (@rankalee_) April 25, 2014
IT'S FINALLY HEEEEEERE pic.twitter.com/Z13swQuiI6
— Lauren Orsini (@laureninspace) April 23, 2014
KILL IT WITH FIRE pic.twitter.com/RlIRS75jM5
— ??????????? (@uke_butts) April 22, 2014
Good read on the state of fansubbing from koda from gg, presented w/o comment (except that YUP KuchuuBuranko's great) http://t.co/dNX81Zea1V
— FEEL SO MOOOOOOOOOON (@zetsubouzhainu) April 23, 2014
Manga publishers explain why scanlations and fan requests don't influence licensing choices: http://t.co/dVBQ1YKXH5 (via @Kami_nomi).
— The Manga Critic (@manga_critic) April 27, 2014
Nisekoi Zvezda for @ABCBTom pic.twitter.com/ElMlo3RShi
— Kory Cerjak (@ImpassionateK) April 27, 2014
I think everyone could use this screen cap from time to time. http://t.co/B4sLhjihdS
— BrainwasherDetective (@hisuiRT) April 27, 2014
episode 126 of #HunterXHunter is glorious. that is all.
— zaockle (@zaockle) April 26, 2014
Speaking of Hunter x Hunter…
Links! Of course, it’ll only matter to those keeping up with the anime…
- Don’t worry Enzo, I was speechless after that episode and wasn’t even sure I wanted to watch another anime that day so it’s ok to be incoherent.
- Iblessall going all the way and wondering after how great Ep 126 was, Hunter x Hunter should be in the discussion for one of the best anime of all time.
- Good reminder by doofus that it was a great day of HxH: the anime has a masterpiece episode, and the manga’s coming back.
How long will it stay though - Shinmaru’s right: that episode of Hunter x Hunter was the da bomb.
